Shaykh Abul Wafa Al Afghani is one of the former Shaykh Ul Fiqh of Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad. He was known for his contributions to Islamic sciences (particularly concerning the Hanafi School of jurisprudence).[citation needed]

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He was born on 10th Dhul Hijjah, 1310 Hijri in Kandahar in Afghanistan (hence the epithet Al Afghani). His full name is Syed Mahmood Shah Qadri Hanafi. His father's name is Syed Mubarak Shah Qadri Hanafi. He completed his introductory education under his father himself. At a young age, he came to India. He studied in Rampur, in Gujarat and reached Hyderabad and enrolled in Jamia Nizamia. He graduated from here in 1330 Hijri.

In Jamia Nizamia, Abul Wafa studied under great scholars of the time like Shaykh Ul Islam Imam Muhammad Anwaarullah Farooqui, the founder of Jamia Nizamia and Daairatul Ma'arif Al 'Uthmania, Shaykh 'Abdul Samad, Shaykh 'Abdul Kareem, Shaykh Muhammad Yaqoob, Shaykh Muqri Muhammad 'Ayud, Shaykh Ruknuddin, the first Mufti of Jamia Nizamia and others. After graduating from Jamia Nizamia, Abul Wafa was appointed as a teacher in Jamia Nizamia.

Abul Wafa established Al Ihya Al Ma'arif An Nomaniya to publish rare books of Islamic sciences, especially those pertaining to the Hanafi School of jurisprudence.

Whatever manuscripts and rare books he needed, he would write letters to all the scholars he knew and seek their cooperation. Thus, Abul Wafa had an extensive collection of books on Hanafi jurisprudence, Hadith and its narrators, history and other Islamic sciences.

Abul Wafa Afghani never married. Shaykh Abul Fatah Abul Ghudda who visited him writes: There was nothing in his house except books, manuscripts and writings. These books would be spread all around him.

Abul Wafa would have only a few morsels at night and his nights would be spent supplicating Allah.

Abul Wafa was very close to Muhaddith-e-Deccan Abul Hasanaat Syed 'Abdullah Shah Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri, the author of Zujaajatul Masabeeh. The author of Tadhkira Muhaddith-e-Deccan, Abul Fida Abdul Sattar Khan Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri, the caliph of Abul Hasanaat writes: Hadhrat Abul Wafa told me that I am indeed fortunate to have a perfect spiritual mentor in Hadhrat Abul Hasanaat. Otherwise, I would have had to travel to find a perfect Shaykh.